The fact is that countries spy on each other, even allies and pretend-allies like Pakistan.

The fact is that countries spy on each other, even allies and pretend-allies like Pakistan.

Yes, we know that, thank you Capt.Obvious.

Why on earth could we possibly need a 38 acre facility in Pakistan?

"Why on earth could we possibly need a 38 acre facility in Pakistan?"

Half the people working in the embassy will be Pakistani. You have to make the complex very big in order to ensure that the Pakistani personnel never get anywhere any of the crap we don't want them to see. Also, the more spread out it is the longer it would take any attackers to get from the perimeter to the bunkers where the staff would be hiding.

That's my guess anyway. Another possible answer is that some politicians were throwing money around to favored contractors. The bigger the facility, the more pork. Actually, that's a more likely solution than my first guess....

Why on earth could we possibly need a 38 acre facility in Pakistan?

#3 | Posted by Salaryman at 2009-08-27 03:10 PM | Reply

So the Americans can be 37.9 acres away from smelly Pakis.

omg chairpuddles! NOW that was funny! that's a FF for you!

So the Americans can be 37.9 acres away from smelly Pakis.

Or it's because the Americans with the BO of urinal/beer, can be 37.9 acres away from us Pakistanis.

I wonder when this monstrosity will show up on Google Earth?

To spy on someone you don't need a super giant embassy..... unless you can only spy under diplomatic cover.

Which means the ISI has tightened the watch over Americans so much, they won't risk being not linked to the embassy ... having some sort of diplomatic cover.... and operating from there in an emergency.

I had heard of every American being shadowed... now this confirms it. And act of desperation.

Actually this is a copy of how the Russians did it.

They always had far more "diplomats" and "staff" in their embassies and consulates than normal people could ever need.

There is a giant new consulate being built in Karachi too. I see it every other day.

The original American consulate in Karachi was haunted anyway. Nobody liked working on the 3rd floor after dark.

The other people with the largest embassy are the British.... also famous for sticking their nose where it doesn't belong and sending spies all over.

So under certain circumstances, the larger the embassy size, the more you MIGHT be able to spy.

Btw, have you seen the Pakistan embassy in US? LOL

It's pretty big too.

Oh dear oh dear...

Putting it generously, poor Anne Patterson is not the sharpest knife in the drawer.

I think, in fact, thats why she was sent here.

My guess would be so that a smart ambassador (read: civilian) wouldn't put two and two together on what the Department of Defence, and US Clandestine Services were upto in Islamabad.

We've had some real characters sent over by the US as Ambassadors, like Arnold Raphel (R.I.P) and Robert Oakley.